Tag Archives: Valing

IN A past column I spoke about earthlings. Here comes Pare Ely de los Santos talking about “alien candidates”. But, of course he is not referring to extra-terrestrials. I agree, though, with much of Pare Ely’s wondering aloud about “alien candidates” joining the political fray in Negros Occidental. However, rather than dwell on the “who”, I look instead into the “why” of the matter.

I have always shared the view that a political system is a product of the economic base that produces wealth and sustenance for society. It was not unusual that during the halcyon days of sugar, the makeup of the political leadership in Negros Occidental, particularly, Bacolod City, was determined by the demands and requirements of sugar production. It was not particularly remote that all positions of power in the province were configured according to the sharing arrangements among the captains of the sugar industry.

Northern Negros then was lorded over by the Gustilos, central Negros by the Montelibanos, and the south by the Gatuslaos and the Montillas. The governorship of the province was a perennial contest among these sugar families. Indeed, the composition of Negros Occidental’s political structure might as well have been decided on some golf course, or in some sugar industry boardrooms. The capital is well within the central territory so it was not unusual that Bacolod City Hall would be shaped and molded by the Montelibano hand, perhaps with some accommodation for the other parties in the city council.

The configuration radically changed with martial law. Taking advantage of the crisis in the early seventies, Marcos made a coup by appointing his close friend Roberto Benedicto to take over the reins of the sugar industry. The traditional political leaders were caught flat-footed and different interests started to redefine the political make up. Loyalties began to shift, and new organizations cropped up, setting off an exodus of people from traditional parties. Negros politics was never the same again.

The downfall of Marcos did not lead to the rebuilding of the sugar industry. Rather, the dismantling of the sugar monopoly only led to further weakening of the politics of sugar. The passing of the strong traditional industrial leaders spawned a sprouting of several groups and associations unable or unwilling to work with one another. This lack of unity has placed sugar planters at a disadvantage in dealing with millers and traders. It has also weakened the position of the industry in the shaping of government regulatory policy and legislation.

As a result, the sugar industry has lost, not only its capacity to create wealth and sustain development, but also its challenge and appeal as a socio-economic venture. The haciendero is a disappearing breed, unable to find second-liners in this generation. In politics, this is reflected in the lack of new leadership stock, creating openings for personalities presenting alternative thought.

The appearance in the Negros political scene of “alien candidates” as Pare Ely would put it, is symptomatic of a search for fresh political leadership in a Negros society looking for a new economy. These “aliens” might as well represent new ideas untainted by the sugar experience.

I am not surprised that these new faces present themselves in what used to be the sugar heartland-Benitez in the third district, Gonzales and Golez in Bacolod City.

Of all the sections of Negros Occidental, the third district is practically dependent on sugar production for its survival and existence. However, faced with a rapidly growing population, the industry is no longer able to promise or propel development. Clearly, confronted by an uncertain future, the district has to open its marketplace of ideas to alternative development paths.

Bacolod City, on the other hand, suffers from an ambivalence of direction. For lack of a definitive economic path, its political structure cannot but be a holdover from the fallout following the demise of traditional political clans. The present leadership and the challengers are of the same cast and mold, creations of erstwhile politicians with no original principles of their own. Expectedly, their political battles are not in the presentation of new ideas, but in the tug-of-war for the control of aging organizations left behind by the demise of traditional leaders. These are not men pedigreed in the crucible of development and historical decisions; rather, these are people who go at each other’s throats fighting over the spoils and crumbs of long-forgotten battles. During the past years, Bacolod City grew not because of them, but in spite of them.

Today, if we look closely at the explosion of new business enterprises, we are actually seeing the shift of a large portion of resources from agricultural investment to non-traditional projects. It will not be long before these new and young entrepreneurs would realize that failures in these new projects are not because they thought out bad business schemes, but primarily due to the lack of strong market fundamentals in a primarily agri-based economy. Clearly, new ideas are called for.

Instead of looking at these “aliens” with suspicion then, I would say let us welcome them and listen to what they have to say. We might just be in for surprises.

They wanted me to meet Jess’ nephew, a Major Eduardo Ermita of the Philippine Constabulary who was visiting Bacolod . I was the correspondent of The Manila Times then. That was the first and last time I met the now Little President. I followed up in the papers his rise to fame.

Jess’ nephew was not much of a talker, but obviously brilliant, and well behaved, without the swagger of a PMA graduate, a military officer. I recall telling Jess Ermita, “Your nephew will go places. He knows how to behave well in the presence of his uncle.”

He is a good lightning arrester. As Little President he attracts criticisms but they fizzle out. He is not controversial. He is like Jorge Vargas of Manuel Quezon. Vargas is the grandfather-in-law of Lito Coscolluela.

* * *

Today is the 71 st anniversary of Bacolod as a city. Our young people need to look back where we came from and view all the trials and triumphs, the adventures and adversities, and the sacrifices and successes that Bacolod went through.

Bacolod has a very colorful history. I lost my copy of the book of my friend Judge Rafael Guanzon “Bacolod In the Most Eventful Years 1895-1945.”

Paeng Guanzon wrote of the second quarter of the century as the most eventful and memorable.

He wrote of the turbulence of the early 1920s when two labor groups clashed in the face of a growing sugar industry. There was the “Kusog Sang Imol (Strength of the Poor)” led by labor leaders and the pro planters group, “Ang Mainawa-on (The Concerned)”.

I recall the late post war Bacolod Mayor, Aurelio Locsin, telling me he was the leader of “Kusog Sg Imol” clashing with the Mainawa-on. But clashes then were not violent.

Today Zay de la Cruz unites than all.

There was the Joffar murder that became a celebrated case. The Intrencherado rebellion, the cholera of 1930 that killed many people. Those burying relatives would just fall there near the grave and would just be buried. The dead buried in groups were not in coffin.

I recall in 1960 while renting a house at 1 st Street , neighbors dug a well when there was water shortage. Just four feet below we found human skeletons. It was one of the burial sites during the cholera.

The great strike of the Federacion Obreras de Filipinas, a very big labor group staged a simultaneous strike in the wharves of Negros and Iloilo that crippled sugar shipments.

Bacolod then was just a small community, clustered around the Church and a very small population, compared to today’s nearly half a million.

* * *

The ruling families then were the de la Rama, Gonzaga, Montelibano, Ramos, Ciocon, Ruiz de Luzuriaga, Ballesteros, Villanuevas… The Lizares and Lacson families were originally from Talisay.

The political leaders of the era were the Gonzagas, the Villanuevas, the Ramoses. The Gonzagas were the forebears of the late Mayor Romeo Gonzaga Guanzon, the Ramoses were the forebears of incumbent Mayor Evelio Ramos Leonardia, and the Montelibanos and Gatuslaos.

And there were many more I can only recall from the book of Rafael Guanzon which I cannot find now.

The famous lawyers at the time were Antonio Jayme, Matias Hilado, Agustin Seva, Ricardo Nolan, Rafael Alunan, Roque Hofileña, Valeriano and Agustin Gatuslao…

Some became “juez de paz” or justice of the peace that we call today as judges.

* * *

Interesting too were the journalists of the era. There was no radio then. DYDL was the first radio station here and it came only in the 50s. Its first manager, I think, was our friend Rene Tan.

The writers at the time were mostly the “ilustrados” or the educated and well known professionals, mostly lawyers.

Foremost of them were Antonio Jayme who, like many others wrote in Spanish. According to Paeng Guanzon who was a Spanish professor himself, the early writers wrote in florid Castillan language or in Hiligaynon. They wrote beautiful poems, too.

The other writers were Manuel Fernandez Yanson, another lawyer, Agustin Seva, Jose Ruiz de Luzuriaga.

They wrote in publication like “La Libertad,” and also “La Igualdad” published in Manila .

The publication here was “El Civismo” of Aurelio Locson that lasted up to Sept. 21, 1972 and jolted up only with Martial Law. Don Aurelio didn’t see reason to continue with it.

* * *

In the early years, Bacolod was just a small place, from Justicia St. , in the north to Libertad St. in the south. Mabini in the east and San Juan in the west.

When the city council changed Libertad to Pedro Hernaez and Justicia to Vicente Galo, people shouted, “In Bacolod there is no more justice and liberty.” Washington Street became Valeriano Gatuslao Street and Smith Street became Aurelio Locsin.

* * *

We must adore Clio, the Greek Muse of History. She tells us where we came from. And therefore, will lead us to where we are going. Don Aurelio Locsin became Negros Press Club president in his 80s. I was close to him, having edited his “Country Post” and putting in English his communications. He was Spanish speaking.

From him, too, I learned plenty of Bacolod history the many leaders who were grandchildren or great grandchildren of Spanish friars.

It seemed all of them were. Locsin sired well known journalists Raul, Alfio, and Gerardo.*

The political career of the incumbent governor of the premier province of the Philippines, Hon. Valeriano Gatuslao of Negros Occidental, is one that any public man can well be proud of. Governor Gatuslao is ranked among the country’s best provincial executives. His success becomes more impressive when it is recalled that he started his career in politics barely seven years ago. In 1931m he was just a councilor for the municipality of Murcia. However, his record as a town legislator impressed the province that three years later he was elected to the provincial board. On the death of Governor Gaston, Board Member Gatuslao was appointed Governor for the rest of the term of office.

It was during his incumbency as Governor, that Hon. Gatuslao proved his true worth. He can hold the office of governor as long as he desired because he has endeared himself to the electorate. His political leadership of the province is indisputable.

Governor Gatuslao was born 39 years ago in Himamaylan, the son of Don Serafin Gatuslao and Doña Julita Monton de Gatuslao. Don Valing obtained his college education in the University of Sto. Tomas where he was graduated with the degrees of Associate in Arts and Bachelor of Laws.

Don Valing, the handsome and popular sportsman and hacendero, is a former president of the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company. His interests extend beyond sugar for the Gatuslaos are among the lumber magnates of the Philippines.

Governor Gatuslao belongs to the Nationalist party. He is one of the most loyal followers of President Quezon. He is married but childless.